HISTORY
The Philippine Flag
Description: Two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star
Interpretation:
The Stars represent the 3 main regions of the Philippines: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The Rays of the sun represents the first eighth provinces of Central Luzon that joined in the fight against Spain: Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Manila, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Tarlac. The white triangle stands for equality. The blue stripe stands for peace, truth, and justice. The red stripe stands for patriotism and valor.
The National Anthem / Ang Pambansang Awit
Music was composed by Julian Felipe. Lyrics was originally written in Spanish by Jose Palma and was translated by Felipe de Leon.
Philippine National Anthem
Original Spanish Lyrics of the Philippine National Anthem
Tierra adorada, hija de sol Oriente su fuego ardiente en ti latiendo esta. Tierre de amores del heroismo cuna, los invasores no te hollaran jamas. En tu azul cielo, en tus auras, en tus motes y en tu mar esplende y late el poema de tu amada libertad. Tu pallebon que en las lides la victoria ilumino no veranunca apagados sus estrellas ni su sol. Tierra de dickas, de sol y amores, en tu regazo dulce es vivir; es una gloria para tus hijos, cuando te ofenden por ti motir.
THE PHILIPPINE ISLAND
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Pilipino REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS, archipelago of about 7,100 islands and islets lying about 500 miles (800 km) off the southeastern coast of Asia, covering a land area of about 115,800 square miles (300,000 square km). The capital is Manila. The country spans about 1,150 miles (1,850 km) from south to north at its longest extent and about 700 miles (1,125 km) from west to east at its widest extent; surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, it is bounded by the Philippine Sea to the east, the Celebes Sea to the south, the Sulu Sea to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the west. The two principal islands of the Philippines are Luzon in the north, occupying 40,420 square miles (104,688 square km), and Mindanao in the south, occupying 36,537 square miles (94,630 square km). The Visayan group of islands in the central Philippines include Panay, Negros, Cebu, Leyte, and Samar; Mindoro is situated directly south of Luzon, and Palawan is isolated in the west. The population in 1990 was estimated at 61,483,000.
A brief treatment of the Philippines follows:
THE LAND
The Philippine topography is varied, with inactive volcanoes and mountain ranges being the conspicuous features of most of the larger islands. Many islands have narrow and often-interrupted coastal plains and river systems that generally trend northward. Large lakes on Luzon and Mindanao are of volcanic origin except Laguna de Bay, the country's largest lake (356 square miles [922 square km]), southeast of Manila; it was probably once an arm of Manila Bay. Northern Luzon has rugged mountain ranges trending north-south (including the Sierra Madre in the east and the Cordillera Central in the west) separated by the fertile Cagayan River valley. A merger of these mountain systems in central Luzon separates the Cagayan valley from the 150-by-50-mile (240-by-80-kilometre) densely populated, agriculturally productive central plain of Luzon to the south. Manila is located at the southern end of this plain on the natural harbour provided by Manila Bay. The convoluted peninsular arm of southeastern Luzon is occupied by isolated volcanoes and irregular masses of mountains and hills. Irregularly shaped Mindanao has a complex topography including five major mountain systems and a number of sizable gulfs, bays, and peninsulas giving the island an extremely long coastline. Mount Apo, at 9,692 feet (2,954 m) the highest peak in the Philippines, overlooks Davao, Mindanao's largest city.
The Philippines have a maritime tropical climate with temperature variations being almost entirely a result of elevation. Manila has an average annual temperature of 81 F (27 C). The archipelago is well watered, with the western Philippines having a distinct dry season. Typhoons frequently strike the more northerly eastern coast. More than one-third of the country is forested. There are many valuable hardwoods, such as lauan (Philippine mahogany), as well as many softwoods, including pine. Native plants and animals include some 800 species of orchid and at least 56 species of bat.
The Philippines is rich in mineral resources. Deposits of gold, silver, iron ore, copper, lead, chromite, nickel, manganese, and limestone occur in commercial quantities. Limited petroleum reserves are located off the island of Palawan.
THE PEOPLE
The people of the Philippines (who are called Filipinos) are predominantly of a Malay stock frequently admixed with Chinese and sometimes with American or Spanish ethnic groups. Pilipino, a language based on Tagalog (the language spoken around Manila by almost one-third of the country's total population), and English are both official languages. There are scores of other languages, the main groups of which are the Cebuano (spoken by approximately one-fourth of the total population), Ilocano, Hiligaynon, and Bicol.
More than four-fifths of the population is Roman Catholic, and a sizable minority is Muslim. Some of the population belongs to the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan) and others are mainline Protestant.
Population density in the Philippines is relatively high. Nearly two-fifths are younger than 15 years of age. Family-planning programs have been concentrated especially in rural areas. Overall life expectancy has increased to 65 years. Heavy migration from rural to urban areas has caused overcrowding, particularly in metropolitan Manila; about two-fifths of the country's population is urban. Emigration and immigration generally balance each other, although many of the emigrants include highly skilled workers.
THE ECONOMY
The economy of the Philippines is based largely on agriculture, light industries, and services. A market economy predominates, though intervention by the government was increased in the late 20th century. Prices have tended to rise more rapidly than purchasing power, and wages are among the lowest in East Asia. The gross national product (GNP) per capita, which has a negative real growth rate, is similar to that of other developing countries.
Agriculture accounts for approximately one-fourth of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employs more than two-fifths of the work force, many of them tenant farmers. More than one-fourth of the land is arable; irrigation is insufficient, and the government and various international agencies have sponsored programs to expand the land under irrigation. However, the country has not attained agricultural self-sufficiency.
Rice is the leading staple, though corn (maize) predominates in some islands. Various hybrid strains of rice have been introduced and greater amounts of fertilizer are now used, but yields are far from optimum. The Philippines is a leading producer of coconuts, exported mainly as coconut oil as well as whole and as copra. Sugarcane, bananas, and pineapples are also widely grown and have supplanted traditional abaca (Manila hemp) and tobacco as sources of foreign exchange.
The Philippines' forests are being depleted by widespread illegal cutting and patterns of shifting cultivation that still persist. Large quantities of high-quality timber and veneers are exported to Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Mining accounts for only a small percentage of the GDP, but copper, gold, and iron ore are sources of foreign exchange. Manufacturing accounts for approximately one-fourth of the GDP and employs about one-tenth of the work force. Major manufactures include processed foods, beverages, petroleum products, textiles, and footwear. The government has encouraged the development of labour-intensive industries, including the assembly of electrical and electronic equipment. Only one-seventh of the country's roads are paved. There are international airports at Manila and near Cebu on Mactan Island. The country's most important port is Manila. The transportation infrastructure, however, is poorly developed and has been a major obstacle to increasing agricultural output. Exports include electrical and electronic equipment and components, coconut products, clothing, fruits and vegetables, and sugar and sugar products. Mineral fuels, capital goods, cereals, and chemicals are imported. The balance of trade is frequently unfavorable. The United States and Japan are the Philippines' leading trading partners. Remittances from Filipinos working abroad are an important source of foreign exchange. The government's budgetary expenditures have traditionally exceeded revenues, and the external public debt has increased sharply since 1980.
GOVERNMENT & SOCIAL CONDITIONS
The Philippine constitution of 1987 (which replaced the Constitution of 1973, as amended in 1981 and 1984) vests executive power in the president, the head of state, who is directly elected to a single six-year term. The president appoints the Cabinet, which is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the country. Legislative power is vested in the bicameral Congress of the Philippines, consisting of a 204-member House of Representatives and a 24-member Senate. House members are elected from districts, although a number of them are appointed, and senators are elected at large. The judicial system is headed by a politically independent Supreme Court. A martial-law ban on political parties was lifted in 1978, and since the mid-1980s partisan political activity has been vigorous. Outlawed political organizations operating in the country include a group seeking autonomy for Muslim Filipinos and a communist-led insurgency.
Health-care facilities and personnel are concentrated in Manila; the city has some 15 times as many physicians as the outlying rural areas. Malnutrition is widespread, and the demand for health care continues to outstrip available resources. A serious housing shortage exists, and some squatter communities (especially around Manila) lack elementary facilities for health and sanitation
The literacy rate is high relative to Southeast Asian countries. Six years of elementary education is officially compulsory and free in public schools, and enrollment is almost universal. Many large universities, mostly established in the early 20th century, are concentrated in Manila. Freedom of the press is guaranteed by the constitution. Newspapers are published in Pilipino, English, and many of the country's vernacular dialects. There are numerous radio and television stations in operation in the Philippines.
CULTURAL LIFE
The Philippines has been strongly influenced by centuries of rule by Spain and a half-century of rule by the United States, but strong Southeast Asian moorings have remained. Many Filipino songs and dances of the Spanish period have been preserved or reinterpreted. Ensembles such as Bayanihan have made these traditional performances known to a worldwide audience. A rich folkloric tradition preserves legends and myths of the origin of the world and tales associated with the Spanish conquest. Distinctive regional wood carvings attract nationwide attention.
Chinese traders are known to have visited and resided on the islands from about AD 1000, but the influence of both China and India on the Philippines was of little importance. At the beginning of the 15th century Filipinos were primarily shifting cultivators, hunters, and fishermen having animistic beliefs. Islam was introduced later in the same century (particularly in the area of Mindanao) followed by Ferdinand Magellan's European discovery of the Philippines in 1521. The late 16th-century, militarily enforced Spanish colonization of much of the northern and central Philippines led to the nominal conversion of all the inhabitants to Roman Catholicism. The Moros, as the Spanish called the Muslims of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago farther southwest, were never completely subdued by the Spanish.
Central government in Manila retained a medieval, autocratic cast into the 19th century; the city also dominated the islands as an oppressive ecclesiastical centre and as a commercial centre serving as an entrepôt for Chinese silks and Mexican silver. By the 1830s Manila was open to foreign markets. The European demand for sugar and abaca led to the intensive growth of commercial agriculture, with most of the economic benefits going to a wealthy elite of Spanish-descended large landowners. In the late 19th-century, sons of wealthy landholders returned from European schools to the Philippines imbued with nationalistic ideals that led to an 1896 insurrection that was put down by Spanish troops.
The islands were ceded to the United States after the latter's victory in the Spanish-American War of 1898, but an independence movement within the Philippines was not subdued until 1906. The juxtaposition of U.S. democracy and imperialistic rule over the Filipinos was sufficiently jarring to most Americans that, from the beginning, the training of Filipinos for self-government and ultimate independence was an essential rationalization for U.S. hegemony.
The Commonwealth of the Philippines was established in 1935 in an attempt to prepare the country for political and economic independence, but this effort was delayed by World War II and the subsequent Japanese invasion and occupation. After the Philippines' liberation by U.S. forces in 1944-45, the independent Republic of the Philippines was proclaimed on July 4, 1946, with a government patterned on that of the United States and with Manuel Roxas as the first president.
In 1965 Ferdinand E. Marcos was first elected president, and in 1972 he declared martial law, a state of affairs that was formally ended in 1981, although Marcos continued dictatorial rule. The assassination of opposition leader Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., in 1983 became the focal point of mounting opposition to Marcos' increasingly corrupt rule, and a revolt drove him from power in 1986. Corazon Aquino, Benigno's widow, took over as president, instituting a period of democracy that led in 1992 to the free election of her successor, Fidel V. Ramos.
General: Filipinos often use their eyes, lips, and hands to convey a wide range of messages. Raised eyebrows and a smile indicate a silent "hello" or a "yes" in answer to a question. Fixed eye contact between men is considered an aggressive gesture. The proper method to summon somebody is with a downward wave. Filipinos place great emphasis on polite language and gentle conversation. Voice tone is always soft and gentle, and direct questions should be avoided. Filipinos value their self-esteem, so never criticize or argue with them publicly. Most men, when so provoked, will fight for the preservation of their pride or self-esteem. Avoid topics such as politics, religion, corruption and foreign aid. Filipinos enjoy conversations about their families. Business:
General: Filipinos often use their eyes, lips, and hands to convey a wide range of messages. Raised eyebrows and a smile indicate a silent "hello" or a "yes" in answer to a question. Fixed eye contact between men is considered an aggressive gesture. The proper method to summon somebody is with a downward wave. Filipinos place great emphasis on polite language and gentle conversation. Voice tone is always soft and gentle, and direct questions should be avoided. Filipinos value their self-esteem, so never criticize or argue with them publicly. Most men, when so provoked, will fight for the preservation of their pride or self-esteem. Avoid topics such as politics, religion, corruption and foreign aid. Filipinos enjoy conversations about their families.
Business:
English is the language used to conduct business. Punctuality is expected for meetings, it is better to arrive a little late for a dinner invitation. Greet business people with a handshake. Women feel comfortable conducting business here, as sexual equality is more widespread in the Philippines than in other Asian countries. Make sure you have your business cards, as Filipinos like to know who they are dealing with. Currency The unit of currency in the Philippines is the peso (P). Notes are issued by the Central Bank in denominations of P5, P10, P20, P50, P100, P500 and P1,000. Coins are issued for 5c (centavos), 10c, 25c, 50c, P1, P2 and P5. Most foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, hotels and authorized foreign exchange dealers. Outside of Manila, the use of the Philippine pesos for payments is preferred. Travelers checks issued by American Express, Bank of Tokyo, Bank of America, Barclays and Citibank are widely accepted. Major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners Club can be used to pay for most goods and services. Visas and Passports For most foreigners staying up to 21 days, visas are not required upon entering the country, provided visitors have valid passports and tickets to leave the Philippines. Visas are required only for stateless persons and citizens of countries with which the Philippines has no diplomatic relations. For visitors who are planning to stay up to 59 days, a temporary visitors visa is required, and registration with the Commission on Immigration and Deportation is necessary. Foreigners arriving from an area infected by plague, typhus or yellow fever are required to have valid vaccination and immunization certificates. Holders of Hong Kong and Taiwan passports need special entry permits. Visas and permits may be obtained from Philippine embassies and consulates. Customs Regulations Visitors are advised to fill in the Baggage and Currency Declaration Form before arrival to facilitate customs examination. For those with no currency or article to declare, BC Form 117, signed by the custom officer serves as a gate pass. Foreign currency more than US$3,000 must be declared at the Central Bank of the Philippines counter situated behind the customs examination area. Departing passengers are not allowed to take out foreign currency more than the amount that was brought in and declared. Local currency not exceeding P1,000 can be taken out of the country. Imported items brought in, and not to be taken out again upon leaving, are taxable. Duty-Free Items: Two bottles (1 liter each) of alcoholic beverages, two reams (400 sticks) of cigarettes and two tins of smoking tobacco are allowed to be brought duty-free into the country.
Are you confused about your ethnic identity? Want to know just how Filipino you are?
Take this less-than-scientific quiz to rate your "Filipino-ness." Scoring: 3 points if you can relate to the following characteristics yourself
2 points if it relates to an immediate family member, i.e. mom or dad or sister/brother
1 point if you know of someone who has the characteristic
MANNERISM & PERSONALITY TRAITS: 1.You point with your lips. 2.You eat using hands--and have it down to a technique. 3.Your other piece of luggage is a Balikbayan box. 4.You always have at least three other people taking you to the airport. 5.You're standing next to eight big boxes at the airport. 6.You nod upwards to greet someone. 7.You put your foot up on your chair and rest your elbow on your knee while eating. 8.You use a rock to scrub yourself in the shower. 9.You have to kiss your relative on the cheek as soon as you enter the room. 10.You collect items from hotels or restaurants "for souvenir." 11.You smile for no reason. 12.You flirt by having a foolish grin in your face while raising your eyebrows repeatedly. 13.You go to a department store and try to bargain the prices. 14.You use an umbrella for shade on a hot summer days. 15.You scratch your head when you don't know the answer. 16.You never eat the last morsel of food on the table. 17.You like bowling. 18.You know how to play pusoy and mah-jong. 19.You find dried up morsels of rice stuck on your shirt. 20.You prefer to sit in the shade instead of basking in the sun. 21.You add an unwarranted "H" to your name, i.e. "Jhun," "Bhoy," "Rhon." 22.You put your hands together in front of you as if to make a path and say
"Excuse, excuse" when you pass between people or in front of the TV. 23.Your middle name is your mother's maiden name. 24.You like everything imported or "state-side." 25.You check the labels on clothes to see where it was made before buying. 26.You hang your clothes out to dry. 27.You are perfectly comfortable in a squatting position with your elbows resting on your knees. 28.You consistently arrive 30 minutes late for all events. 29.You always offer food to all your visitors. VOCABULARY: 30.You pronounce F's like P's and P's like F's. 31.You say "comfort room" instead of "bathroom." 32.You say "for take out" instead of "to go." 33.You "open" or "close" the light. 34.You asked for "Colgate" instead of "toothpaste." 35.You asked for a "Pentel-pen" or a "ball-pen" instead of just "pen." 36.You refer to the refrigerator as the "ref" or "pridyider." 37.You say "Kodakan" instead of take a picture. 38.You order a McDonald's instead of "hamburger" (pronounced ham-boor-jer) 39.You say "Ha?" instead of "What." 40.You say "Hoy" get someone attention. 41.You answer when someone yells "Hoy." 42.You turn around when someone says "Psst!" 43.You say "Cutex" instead of "nail polish." 44.You say "he" when you mean "she" and vice versa. 45.You say "aray" instead of "ouch." 46.Your sneeze sounds like "ahh-ching" instead of "ahh-choo." 47.You prefer to make acronyms for phrases such as "OA" for overacting, or "TNT" for, well, you know. 48.You say "air con" instead of "a/c" or air conditioner. 49.You say "brown-out" instead of "black-out." HOME FURNISHINGS: 50.You use a "walis ting-ting" or "walis tambo" as opposed to a conventional broom. 51.You have a "Weapons of Moroland" shield hanging in the living room wall. 52.You have a portrait of "The Last Supper" hanging in your dining room. 53.You own a Karaoke System. 54.You own a piano that no one ever plays. 55.You have a tabo in the bathroom. 56.Your house has too many burloloys. 57.You have two to three pairs of tsinelas at your doorstep. 58.Your house has an ornate wrought iron gate in front of it. 59.You have a rose garden. 60.You have a shrine of the Santo Ninyo in your living room. 61.You own a "barrel man" (you pull up the barrel and you see something that looks familiar.schwing...) 62.You cover your living room furnitures with bedsheets. 63.Your lamp shades still have the plastic covers on them. 64.You have plastic runners to cover the carpets in your house. 65.You refer to your VCR as a "beytamax." 66.You have a rice dispenser. 67.You own a turbo broiler. 68.You own one of those fiber optic flower lamps. 69.You own a lamp with the oil that drips down the strings. 70.You have a giant wooden fork and spoon hanging somewhere in the dining room. 71.You have a wooden tinikling dancers on the wall. 72.You own capiz shells chandeliers, lamps, or placemats. AUTOMOBILES: 73.You own a Mercedes Benz and you call it "chedeng." 74.You own a huge van conversion. 75.Your car chirps like a bird or plays a tune when it is in reverse. 76.Your can horn can make 2 or 3 different sounds. 77.Your car has curb feelers or curb detectors. 78.Your car has too many "burloloys" like a Jitneys back in P.I. 79.You hang a Rosary on your car's rear view mirror. 80.You have an air freshener in your car. FAMILY: 81.You have aunts and uncles named "Baby," "Girlie," or "Boy." 82.You were raised to believe that every Filipino is an aunt, uncle or cousin. 83.Your Dad was in the Navy. 84.You have a family member or relative that works in the Post Office. 85.Your mom or sister or wife is a nurse. 86.Your parents call each other "mommy" and "daddy," or "ma" and "pa." 87.You have family member that has a nickname that repeats itself,
i.e., "Deng-Deng," "Ling Ling," or "Bing Bing." etc. FOOD: 88.You put hot dogs in your spaghetti. 89.You consider dilis the Filipino equivalent to french fries. 90.You think that eating chocolate rice pudding and dried fish is a great morning meal. 91.You order things like tapsilog, tocilog, or longsilog at restaurants. 92.You distinctively grab a toothpick after a meal. 93.You order a "soft drink" instead of a "soda." 94.You dip bread in your morning coffee. 95.You refer to seasonings and all other forms of monosodium glutimate as "Ajinomoto" 96.Your Cupboards are full of Spam, Vienna Sausage, Ligo, and Corned Beef, which
you which you refer to as Karne Norte. 97."Goldilocks" means more to you than just a character in a fairytale. 98.You appreciate a fresh pot of rice. 99.You bring your "baon" most of the time to work. 100.Your "baon" is usually something over rice. 101.Your neighbors complain about the smell of tuyoon sunday Mornings. 102.You eat rice for breakfast. 103.You use your fingers to measure the water when cooking rice. 104.You wash and re-use disposable plastic utensils and styrofoam cups. 105.You have a supply of frozen lumpiain the refrigerator. 106.You have an ice shaver for making halo-halo. 107.You eat purple yam flavored ice cream. 108.You gotta have a bottle of Jufran or Mafran handy. 109.You fry spam or hot dogs and eat them with rice. 110.You think that half-hatched duck eggs are a delicacy. 111.You know that "chocolate meat" is not really made with chocolate. Bonus question: You understand this joke (make sure you read the punchline with a Filipino accent!): How many bears were in car with Goldilocks? Four -- the momma bear, the poppa bear, the baby bear and the driver. Tally your scores and see what category you belong.
259-327 points: Welcome to America! Judging from your high score, you are an obvious transplant
from the Philippines. There's no doubt what your ethnic identity is! You're a Filipino, through and through. 173-258 points: Congratulations, you've retained most of the Filipino traits and tendencies your
family have instilled in you. 172-51: You have OFT (Obvious Filipino Tendencies.) Go with the flow to reach full Filipino potential.
Prepare for assimilation; resistance is futile! 50 and under: You're white, aren't you?
FOOD ENTERTAINMENTHISTORY
SCHOOLS ABOUT ME SEARCH ENGINES
Philippine Flag & Philippine National Anthem 
Philippine National Anthem 
